Assiano
Encyclopedia
Assiano is a rural district ("quartiere
") of Milan
, Italy
, part of the Zone 7 administrative division. It is a border district, at the western end of the city area. Before being annexed to Milan (in 1841), it was an autonomous comune
, except for a brief period (1808-1816) when it was included in Cusago
.
Although administratively part of Milan, Assiano is quite isolated from the urban area and has maintained its rural character. A distinctive feature of Assiano and nearby rural areas is the presence of several ancient "fontanili", i.e., artificial water springs.
The most important historic building in Assiano is the eponymous cascina
(farmhouse), i.e., Cascina Assiano. In the past, the cascina has been the property of several notable Milanese families, including the Agnelli, the Feltrinelli, and the Migliavacca. Until the early 20th century, Cascina Assiano was the main driving force of the economy of the area, on which a number of other activities depended. For example, the local dairy factory "Gambini" was established to process milk produced in Cascina Assiano. Today, Cascina Assiano is publicly owned and abandoned (while the Gambini dairy factory has survived).
times; an ancient Roman plaque with the inscription "AXILIANVM" is exhibited in the Sforza Castle museum, and was reportedly found in "the area of Baggio
" (which might actually mean in Assiano, as these two districts have been merged in the past). A place called "Axiliano" is also mentioned in legal documents of the mid 11th century.
The first specific reference to the "comune of Assiano" is found in administrative documents dating back to the 14th century, where it is referred to as a part of the pieve
of Cesano Boscone
, named "Asliano". It remained part of the pieve through the 16th, 17th, and 18th century. Under Napoleonic
rule, Assiano was annexed to Cusago
, but regained its autonomy with the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
In 1841, Assiano was merged with Muggiano and in 1869, the two were annexed to Baggio
. Baggio, in turn, became part of Milan in 1923.
Quartiere
A quartiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The word is from quarto, or fourth, and was thus properly used only for towns divided into four neighborhoods. The English word "quarter" to mean a neighborhood A quartiere (plural: quartieri) is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The...
") of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, part of the Zone 7 administrative division. It is a border district, at the western end of the city area. Before being annexed to Milan (in 1841), it was an autonomous comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
, except for a brief period (1808-1816) when it was included in Cusago
Cusago
Cusago is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 11 km west of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,343 and an area of 11.5 km²....
.
Although administratively part of Milan, Assiano is quite isolated from the urban area and has maintained its rural character. A distinctive feature of Assiano and nearby rural areas is the presence of several ancient "fontanili", i.e., artificial water springs.
The most important historic building in Assiano is the eponymous cascina
Cascina a corte
The Italian phrase cascina a corte or, equivalently, cascina lombarda or just cascina refers to a type of rural building traditional of the Po Valley, especially of Lombardy and of some areas of Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna. Cascine are reported in the Po Valley at least since the 16th century, but...
(farmhouse), i.e., Cascina Assiano. In the past, the cascina has been the property of several notable Milanese families, including the Agnelli, the Feltrinelli, and the Migliavacca. Until the early 20th century, Cascina Assiano was the main driving force of the economy of the area, on which a number of other activities depended. For example, the local dairy factory "Gambini" was established to process milk produced in Cascina Assiano. Today, Cascina Assiano is publicly owned and abandoned (while the Gambini dairy factory has survived).
History
A rural settlement in the area of Assiano has probably existed since RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times; an ancient Roman plaque with the inscription "AXILIANVM" is exhibited in the Sforza Castle museum, and was reportedly found in "the area of Baggio
Baggio
Baggio is the Italian-derived name of Bagg in Milanese dialect. Is an Italian surname and also a village in Milan inhabited by Celtic tribes. It can also be found in Germany and the UK ....
" (which might actually mean in Assiano, as these two districts have been merged in the past). A place called "Axiliano" is also mentioned in legal documents of the mid 11th century.
The first specific reference to the "comune of Assiano" is found in administrative documents dating back to the 14th century, where it is referred to as a part of the pieve
Pieve
In the Middle Ages, a pieve was a rural church with a baptistery, upon which other churches without baptisteries depended.The Italian word pieve is descended from Latin plebs which, after the expansion of Christianity in Italy, was applied to the community of baptized people...
of Cesano Boscone
Cesano Boscone
Cesano Boscone is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 6 km southwest of Milan.Cesano Boscone borders the following municipalities: Milan, Corsico, Trezzano sul Naviglio.-Main sights:...
, named "Asliano". It remained part of the pieve through the 16th, 17th, and 18th century. Under Napoleonic
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
rule, Assiano was annexed to Cusago
Cusago
Cusago is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 11 km west of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,343 and an area of 11.5 km²....
, but regained its autonomy with the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
In 1841, Assiano was merged with Muggiano and in 1869, the two were annexed to Baggio
Baggio
Baggio is the Italian-derived name of Bagg in Milanese dialect. Is an Italian surname and also a village in Milan inhabited by Celtic tribes. It can also be found in Germany and the UK ....
. Baggio, in turn, became part of Milan in 1923.